飛狐外傳 – Legend of the Fox (1980)

Based on the same story that later produced NEW TALES OF THE FLYING FOX and SWORD OF MANY LOVES, it’s a film of two halves in many ways… the first half, where Chin Siu Ho learns about the events that killed his father (mucho flashback) is typical Chang Cheh turf – absurd chivalry and bloody revenge; then he meets the Poison Clan, and the second half of the film is more fantastical and familiar (from the two films mentioned above). I was enjoying it but not loving it up until this point, but once the poisons came out and everything got a bit madder I was thoroughly hooked.